Athlon Gold PRO 3150G vs Core i5-12400F

CPU

GPU

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2020

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G

4 / 4

7,468

0.0%

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

+161.5%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $24 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Vega 3, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,468 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 49.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +136.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 125.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 49.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
16% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon Gold PRO 3150G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G

2020

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $24 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Vega 3, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +136.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 125.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 49.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,468 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 49.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
16% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon Gold PRO 3150G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Athlon Gold PRO 3150G?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 136.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 161.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 136.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 161.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 350% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is 16.0% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it gives you a 136.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 125.5% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 49.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Athlon Gold PRO 3150G can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 350% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	165 FPS	183 FPS
medium	141 FPS	168 FPS
high	110 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	153 FPS
medium	119 FPS	132 FPS
high	92 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	74 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	87 FPS
medium	58 FPS	81 FPS
high	46 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	49 FPS

Open Athlon Gold PRO 3150G Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	187 FPS	471 FPS
medium	173 FPS	397 FPS
high	158 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	173 FPS	407 FPS
medium	147 FPS	351 FPS
high	133 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	129 FPS	282 FPS
medium	112 FPS	248 FPS
high	89 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	66 FPS	196 FPS

Open Athlon Gold PRO 3150G Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	187 FPS	488 FPS
medium	187 FPS	488 FPS
high	187 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	187 FPS	488 FPS
medium	187 FPS	488 FPS
high	187 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	187 FPS	442 FPS
medium	183 FPS	389 FPS
high	160 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	274 FPS

Open Athlon Gold PRO 3150G Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	187 FPS	488 FPS
medium	187 FPS	488 FPS
high	187 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	187 FPS	488 FPS
medium	187 FPS	488 FPS
high	187 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	187 FPS	488 FPS
medium	187 FPS	450 FPS
high	187 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	330 FPS

Open Athlon Gold PRO 3150G Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Athlon Gold PRO 3150G and Core i5-12400F

Athlon Gold PRO 3150G

The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 7,468 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 12% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G uses the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G scores 7,468 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 89.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.4 GHz+13%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+40%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+350%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+150%
Process	12 nm	Intel 7 nm-42%
Architecture	Picasso (2019−2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	7,468	19,532+162%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon Gold PRO 3150G) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon Gold PRO 3150G) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
Socket	AM4	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	8	20+150%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Gold PRO 3150G) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Athlon Gold PRO 3150G	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon Vega 3	—
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Athlon Gold PRO 3150G launched at $150 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($150 vs $174), the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G is $24 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Gold PRO 3150G delivers 49.8 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 77.1% better value option.